21st Century Learning and Teaching

Professional Learning
Whereas past professional development programs have often relied on seminars and lectures, the intent of professional learning is to make educators active participants in their career development. Professional learning is also a more collaborative experience, allowing educators to learn from one another and work together to create a more cohesive school community. In this way, professional learning helps develop school systems in which teachers can constantly develop strategies for increasing student achievement. Essentially, professional learning reflects many of the practices being implemented in blended classrooms—the same learning strategies that work for students can work for educators.

Learn more:

- http://gustmees.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/education-collaboration-and-coaching-the-future/

A Different Approach

Teacher-driven observation addresses these problems by empowering teachers with a classroom-embedded process to refine their instruction. Through teacher-driven observation, teachers engage peers in gathering and analyzing classroom data—data that speak to the unique context of their own classrooms. This approach has demonstrated potential to meaningfully improve instruction and student achievement.

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Existing approaches to observation generally serve the observer. Teacher-driven observation flips this approach, placing the observed teacher as leader and primary learner in the observation process.